Seven Hells of San Francisco Ride

Dan “the Hill Man” Reider leads the group up 21st Street to Sanchez in 2009’s Seven Hells of San Francisco ride. Photo by Frank Chan.

When I asked Dan “the Hill Man” Reider if my old 19th Avenue commute to SF State would be included in his Seven Hells ride, he looked confused. “That’s not a hill,” he said flatly. “Who would ride that, anyway? It’s so dangerous.”

He probably wouldn’t have approved of “Frankenstein,” my $40 craigslist bike constructed with parts scavenged from Golden Gate Park. I’m pretty sure neither Frankenstein nor I would make it up the first leg of Reider’s third annual “Seven Hells of San Francisco.” (ride details)

The aptly-named bike trek starts in the Panhandle at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, July 17. “My intent isn’t to have a race, but it is a pretty serious urban ride. I make a disclaimer as we’re gathering,” said Reider. “We’ll be going at a moderate pace and will wait a reasonable amount of time for you to join us at the top of each hill. Otherwise, thanks for the effort and we’ll see you next year.”